Report links Everton with Norwich City's James Maddison, two years after complacency cost Liverpool his signature

Everton are being linked with a move for Norwich City midfielder James Maddison - once a target for their city rivals, Liverpool.

According to ESPN, Maddison was watched by Everton's director of football, Steve Walsh, during Norwich's 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

The report claims the Toffees have been alerted to Maddison's potential - the 20-year-old having scored or made nine goals in 17 league and cup outings this season - but adds that Norwich are confident of fending off interest in the player, who is under contract until 2021.

It has taken Maddison 18 months and a successful stint at Aberdeen to establish himself in Norwich's first team and a move to a club of Everton's stature would cap a remarkable few months for the Coventry City's academy product, who recently earned a first call up to England's Under-21 squad.

Before then, however, Maddison was regarded by many as the next Dele Alli, and he, much like the Tottenham Hotspur man, could have been a Liverpool player, according to the Times.

"Liverpool have held talks with Coventry City about James Maddison but will delay a move for the highly rated midfield player until the end of this season", the newspaper reported on the final day of the January 2016 transfer window.

But the Reds were soon caught napping, as Norwich swooped in and concluded Maddison's transfer within hours.

Seeing him flourish at Everton, however, would be an even bigger kick in the teeth.